SEOUL – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit South Korea next week to participate in the Summit for Democracy, an international assembly initiated by the United States aimed at bolstering cooperation among democratic nations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Blinken will land at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, located 60 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sunday and will engage in the summit's ministerial discussions the following day.
During his stay, Blinken is slated to conduct bilateral discussions with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. This meeting follows their recent interaction in Washington last month, marking their first face-to-face dialogue since Cho's assumption of office in January. The two diplomats had previously convened in Rio de Janeiro during the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in February, reflecting ongoing diplomatic engagements.
This visit marks Blinken’s return to South Korea, following his last trip in November of the previous year when he met with then Foreign Minister Park Jin. His participation underscores the continuing U.S. commitment to reinforcing democratic alliances, especially against a backdrop of increasing global authoritarian tendencies.
The Summit for Democracy, spearheaded by the U.S., seeks to strengthen unity and shared democratic values among participant nations. South Korea is hosting the event this year, which includes ministerial sessions, panel discussions with civic groups, and a concluding virtual leaders' session scheduled from March 18 to 20. U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to join the summit remotely.
The inaugural summit was held by the U.S. in 2021, with the subsequent session being a collaborative effort involving South Korea, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, and Zambia.